AN INDEX TO FANTASY AUTHOR’S HANDBOOK
June 2009
June 15, 2009 Who is Philip Athans?
I should probably update this—my autobiography.
* * *
July 7, 2009 I Spent My Bonus On Books
In which I encourage everyone to spend too much money on books.
* * *
July 14, 2009 Galen Blinked His Elbow
Advice for writers that should not be ignored.
* * *
July 21, 2009 But it Just Isn’t a Rule
It’s okay to use and or but at the beginning of a sentence. There, I said it.
* * *
July 28, 2009 Annihilation by Any Other Name
Share my joy and horror at being translated into other languages.
* * *
August 4, 2009 Hi Conan, It’s Me, Phil
My love letter to the legendary barbarian.
* * *
August 11, 2009 Save the Bullshit Excuses
If you’re gonna write, write!
* * *
August 18, 2009 My Dog Ate It, 21st Century Style
Don’t tell me your hard drive crashed. Just don’t.
* * *
August 25, 2009 The Foresooth File
Didst thou ever attempt to write foresoothy dialog, and know not how to begin?
* * *
September 1, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors I: Medieval Wordbook
I recommend you find a copy of this excellent reference book by Madeline Pelner Cosman.
* * *
September 8, 2009 Born at the Right Time
A love letter to my wife, and Star Trek.
* * *
September 15, 2009 Vignette: An unpublished space opera story in two parts. . . .
The first part of an original SF story by yours truly.
* * *
September 22, 2009 Vignette: Part Two
The conclusion of this entertaining tale of interstellar derring-do.
* * *
September 29, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors II: Payback
Why you must buy and read this fascinating book by Margaret Atwood.
* * *
October 6, 2009 Live Long and Prosper, Authors
Musings on why SF authors seem to live so long.
* * *
October 13, 2009 Wordstock 2009
A convention report on this great Portland, Oregon book fair.
* * *
October 20, 2009 Snippets from the First Draft
Bits of the work-in-progress that became The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
October 27, 2009 King of the Capital
Some commonsense advice on when to use capital letters.
* * *
November 3, 2009 E-books Will Save and/or Destroy the World
My take on the e-book revolution in the wake of Macmillan vs. Amazon.
* * *
November 11, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors III: My Ten Favorite Fantasy Novels
A look at my desert-island books, if the desert island is the lair of a hungry dragon.
* * *
November 18, 2009 A Prisoner of the Prisoner
My experiences experiencing the classic BBC series The Prisoner for the first time.
* * *
November 24, 2009 What I’m Thankful For, 2009
In honor of Thanksgiving.
* * *
December 1, 2009 Relieved, But Nervous
Share my struggles with PFDSD (Post First Draft Stress Disorder).
* * *
December 8, 2009 Horror Isn’t Fantasy. There, I Said It
I dissect the BookScan best sellers list and shatter some false trends.
* * *
December 15, 2009 Dizes Dager
A very early work by Philip Athans, unearthed in the garage.
* * *
December 22, 2009 Judging by its Cover
I reveal the cover art and design for The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
December 29, 2009 Resolutions, 2010
I make some promises for the year ahead.
* * *
January 5, 2010 Write For Your Audience
On writing for various age groups.
* * *
January 12, 2010 Cross & Mix Genres
Fantasy-romance, fantasy-horror, fantasy-?
* * *
January 19, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors IV: World Builder’s Handbook
In which I recommend an obscure, long-lost role-playing game product to any and every author of science fiction.
* * *
January 26, 2010 Excuse Me, Number One, I Have to Go Number Two
Not just about why you don’t need to show your characters going to the bathroom, but yeah, that’s part of it.
* * *
February 2, 2010 The Five Misconceptions
I try to bring a little reality to the e-book debate.
* * *
February 9, 2010 Galley Slave
The joys and hardships of reading a galley, and how they got that name.
* * *
February 16, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors V: My Ten Favorite Science Fiction Novels
My desert island books, if the desert island is surrounded by the methane seas of Titan.
* * *
February 23, 2010 Phil’s Mailbag
My reply to a letter from a young fan.
* * *
March 2, 2010 When You Die, Can I Have This?
My first impressions of my Sony Reader.
* * *
March 9, 2009 Publishing Business Conference & Expo: Day One
First in a series of reports on a major industry conference I attended in New York.
* * *
March 10, 2010 Publishing Business Conference & Expo: Day Two
Still in New York, still conferencing.
* * *
March 16, 2010 Advice for Authors from the Publishing Business Conference & Expo
Distilled insight on the present and future of publishing every author should read.
* * *
March 23, 2010 Don’t Be a Snobby Reader (Like Me) or How Andy Gibb Made Me Want to Read a Romance Novel
Heartfelt words of advice from someone trying not to be dismissive of other genres.
* * *
March 30, 2010 Review This
“Deleted scenes” from The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, in which I make known my opinion of critics.
* * *
April 6, 2010 Sakura-Con 2010: Where My Nerdy Sisters At?
Another convention report, with a nod to my daughter and the other girls who flooded this Seattle anime convention. Yes, I said girls.
* * *
April 13, 2010 Show Me A Story
What editors mean when we tell you to SHOW don’t TELL.
* * *
April 20, 2010 Don’t Apologize for Having Fun
Loving tie-ins, sword & sorcery, and space opera means never having to say you’re sorry.
* * *
April 27, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors VI: Take Joy
A must-read book by Jane Yolen for all writers of all genres.
* * *
May 4, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews I: Mike Resnick
My interview with the most decorated SF/fantasy author of all time, and a really great guy.
* * *
May 11, 2010 Quotes in the Scriptorium
In which I use Paul Auster’s novel Travels in the Scriptorium as an example of when and why to break the accepted rules of grammar and usage.
* * *
May 18, 2009 Following Up
Touching back on some previous posts, including how badly I’m failing to hold to my New Year’s resolutions.
* * *
May 25, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews II: John Betancourt
I talk with the man behind Wildside Press about SF, fantasy, and publishing in general.
* * *
June 1, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews III: Paul S. Kemp
A candid chat with my friend and co-conspirator, The New York Times best-selling creator of Erevis Cale.
* * *
June 8, 2010 Sony Reader: The (Probably) Final Word
What more can I say about my poor beleaguered e-book device?
* * *
June 15, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Exercises I: About the Author
I challenge you to write your bio, with a little advice for good measure.
* * *
June 22, 2010 End of Part Two
Written just a few hours after being laid off from 15 years at Wizards of the Coast.
* * *
June 29, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews IV: Terry Brooks
Literally a living literary legend of the genre, Terry Brooks offers advice, wisdom, and humor.
* * *
July 6, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews V: Chantelle Shaw
My interview with romance novelist Chantelle Shaw, on the similarities and differences of the genres in question.
* * *
July 13, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Exercises II: Cover Copy
The art and craft of cover copy, today’s homework assignment.
* * *
July 20, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews VI: Lou Anders
Pyr editor and anthologist Lou Anders talks fantasy, SF, and everything in between.
* * *
July 27, 2010 In Search of the First Paragraph
I break down the first paragraph of six of my favorite SF/F books.
* * *
August 3, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews VII: Kevin J. Anderson
My conversation with best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson on worldbuilding, tie-ins, and more.
* * *
August 10, 2010 Chapter 1 Errata and Additional Material
A closer look at the first chapter of The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, fixing mistakes, and resurrecting edited text.
* * *
August 17, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Exercises III: A One-page Synopsis
Tough love on how to distill your book down to one page without cheating.
* * *
August 24, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews VIII: Ethan Ellenberg
Literary agent Ethan Ellenberg on the state of publishing, and advice for authors.
* * *
August 31, 2010 Disaster!
Feel my pain at losing a day’s writing to a mistake transferring a Word file from my laptop to my flash drive.
* * *
September 7, 2010 National Buy a Book Day
The first in what I hope will be many annual events in support of authors, publishers, booksellers, and book stores.
* * *
September 14, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews IX: Brendan Deneen
I delve into the mind of a former movie producer, agent, and current editor on the state of the publishing business.
* * *
September 21, 2010 Step One Errata & Additional Material
What was cut, what I got wrong, and what I should have done differently in the first of the six “steps” from The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
September 28, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors VII: Born Standing Up
Find out what SF/fantasy authors can learn from Steve Martin’s memoir.
* * *
October 5, 2010 Wanted: One Deadline, Any Condition
In which I bemoan my own ability to self-motivate.
* * *
October 12, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews X: Paul Park
Wisdom from the critically-acclaimed author of A Princess of Roumania.
* * *
October 19, 2010 Step Two Errata & Additional Material
“Deleted scenes” and clarifications from The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
October 26, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Exercises IV: A Brief History of the Alpha Centauri System
Homework, with an email address for you to send it in for review.
* * *
November 2, 2010 7° of National Novel Writing Month
I make a firm statement of purpose: I will write a 50,000 word novel in November.
* * *
November 9, 2010 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews XI: J.M. McDermott
I chat with one of the most original voices in fantasy . . . or any genre.
* * *
November 16, 2010 Step Three Errata & Additional Material (Part 1)
More follow-ups to The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
November 23, 2010 Step Three Errata & Additional Material (Part 2)
And still more follow-ups to The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction.
* * *
November 30, 2010 NaNoWriMo: Fail
In which I admit defeat on that 50,000 word novel in November.
* * *
December 7, 2010 Wait . . . What Happened?
Advice on what not to skip over in your story.
* * *
December 14, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors VIII: The Eerie Silence
A brilliant review of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Paul Davies.
* * *
December 21, 2010 Step Four Errata & Additional Material (Part One)
Expanded advice on worldbuilding.
* * *
December 28, 2010 Resolutions, 2011
A year-end wrap up and a look to the future.
* * *
January 4, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors IX: The Essentials
Some must-have books to have close at hand.
* * *
January 11, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews XII: Jess Lebow
A successful novelist and video game creator speaks out.
* * *
January 18, 2011 Step Four Errata & Additional Material (Part Two)
More “deleted scenes” and commentary on The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction.
* * *
January 25, 2011 The 2+3 Team: Organizing for Category-Agnostic Creative Development
Some business advice for creative studios.
* * *
February 1, 2011 Successful vs. Successful
What does “success” mean to you?
* * *
February 8, 2011 Step Five Errata & Additional Material
More on the subjects of action and romance.
* * *
February 15, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors X: Writing the Breakout Novel
I recommend agent Donald Maass’s exceptional book for all genres.
* * *
February 22, 2011 In The Rough
I look at my own rough draft and why it’s okay to just let it flow.
* * *
March 1, 2011 Step Six Errata & Additional Material
Humor, anachronisms, and setting your own rules.
* * *
March 8, 2011 Heard You Missed Me, Comic Books, I’m Back
I started buying comic books on a regular basis again—and I still am!
* * *
March 15, 2011 Look Out, Wondercon, Here I Come!
I get ready for a bog convention in San Francisco.
* * *
March 22, 2011 Part III Errata & Additional Material
A little more on the professional life.
* * *
March 29, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews XIII: Peter D. Adkison
A chat with my former boss, Wizards of the Coast founder Peter Adkison.
* * *
April 5, 2011 Wondercon 2011
My con report—it went well!
* * *
April 12, 2011 Part III Errata & Additional Material, Part Two
Tie-ins and other opportunities for genre writers.
* * *
April 19, 2011 Practice, Practice, Practice
If you want to write well, you have to write in the first place!
* * *
April 26, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interviews XIV: Jim Minz
I talk with the editor at Baen Books about military SF, urban fantasy, and so on.
* * *
May 3, 2011 Don’t Grow Out of It
Why do people keep saying they used to read SF/fantasy?
* * *
May 10, 2011 I Only Thought I Was Done
Trials and tribulations on the way to a first draft.
* * *
May 17 2011 My 100th Post
Risking a tear in the time-space continuum, I blog about blogging.
* * *
May 24, 2011 The Publishing Business is Not Dying
Good news from the Association of American Publishers, especially for e-publishers.
* * *
May 31, 2011 Another Memorial Day
Musings on war in fantasy and SF . . . and reality.
* * *
June 7, 2011 Where Are All The Tie-in Novels?
I challenge the vide game business to TIE IN!
* * *
June 14, 2011 E3 2011: Bigger is . . . Bigger
My report on the massively massive Electronic Entertainment Expo in L.A.
* * *
June 21, 2011 The Hardest Part: Patience
Most of being a professional writer is waiting to hear back, and that sucks.
* * *
June 28, 2011 Legion: A Study in Inconsistency & Implausibility, Part One
I take the movie Legion to task in order to prove a point.
* * *
July 5, 2011 Legion: A Study on Inconsistency & Implausibility, Part Two
Why motivation is so important.
* * *
July 12, 2011 Something About the Shuttle/Space Program
Thoughts on the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one.
* * *
July 19, 2011 How to Sell Your Fantasy & Science Fiction to Agents and Editors
I pimp my Writers Digest University “webinar.”
* * *
July 26, 2011 Miscellaneous Business
I needed to get some stuff cleaned up, so I did.
* * *
August 2, 2011 Completely Broken
Read my scary thriller on the Kindle and Smashwords.
* * *
August 9, 2011 Self-Published E-books Are Losing Readers Due to Bad Editing
True? False? Find out what I think.
* * *
August 16, 2011 The National Buy A Book Day Foundation Needs You!
A call for help to get this organization off the ground.
* * *
August 23, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interview: Ari Marmell
I talk about fantasy, publishing, and all sorts of things with this exciting young author.
* * *
August 30, 2011 Work in Progress: The Haunting of Dragon’s Cliff
A look behind the scenes of the writing of the first book in the Arron of the Black Forest series.
* * *
September 6, 2011 National Buy a Book Day is Here Again
On September 7, every year, buy a book!
* * *
September 13, 2011 10,500 Word for the Love of the Game
More behind the scenes of he writing of The Haunting of Dragon’s Cliff.
* * *
September 20, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interview: Alan Dean Foster
I chat with one of my favorite authors, a true SF/fantasy legend.
* * *
September 27, 2011 The Haunting of Dragon’s Cliff
Announcing the release of The Haunting of Dragon’s Cliff!
* * *
October 4, 2011 Beware of Typos Bearing Gifts
Mistakes are not a badge of honor.
* * *
October 11, 2011 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interview: Donald Maass
I get the skinny from one of New York’s top agents.
* * *
October 18. 2011 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Author
Hey! I’m over here!
* * *
October 25, 2011 In Defense of Multiple Points of View
Who’s head are we in, and why?
* * *
November 1, 2011 De-re-prioritizing Reading
An in-depth report in my reading OCD.
* * *
November 8, 2011 The Art & Science of the Title
A little bit about what to cal it when you’re done.
* * *
November 15, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors XI: The Red Hourglass
Don’t invent a monster without it.
* * *
November 22, 2011 What I’m Thankful For, 2011
The holiday tradition continues.
* * *
November 29, 2011 The Fathomless Abyss
A secret project revealed!
* * *
December 6, 2011 Excerpts from the Fathomless Abyss
Teasers from the opening anthology.
* * *
December 13, 2011 NASA Future Forum
I spent a day with rocket scientists.
* * *
December 20, 2011 God Has a Sense of Humor (I Hope)
How to Start Your Own Religion . . . a Christmas miracle!
* * *
December 27, 2011 Resolutions 2012 (The Semi-coherent Rant Edition)
Watch me unravel online.
* * *
January 3, 2012 Healthy Body/Healthy Mind
Don’t forget to take care of yourself.
* * *
January 10, 2011 Take a Day Off
And don’t forget to give yourself a little time off.
* * *
January 17, 2012 Flashes of Inspiration: Stealing From Your Own Experience
What your life can bring to your writing.
* * *
January 24, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XII: Last Breath (and Stranger Than Fiction)
What does death feel like?
* * *
January 31, 2012 Work in Progress: Devils of the Endless Deep
I did finish it . . . eventually
* * *
February 7, 2012 25 Years After My First Sale(s)
Have I really been doing this, professionally, for that long?
* * *
February 14, 2012 To Swear or Not to Swear
. . . that is the question!
* * *
February 21, 2012 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interview: Mats Minnhagen
The Fathomless Abyss cover artist speaks.
* * *
February 28, 2012 Details, Details, Details
Pay attention!
* * *
March 6, 2012 What Moves Your Villain: Excuse vs. Defense
Advice from a traffic court judge.
* * *
March 13, 2012 Depression and Writer’s Block
You are not alone.
* * *
March 20 Do I Have to Go to College?
No, but. . . .
* * *
March 27, 2012 Arron’s Lonely Blog
Go read the Arron of the Black Forest blog!
* * *
April 3, 2012 Emerald City Comicon 2012
The most fun I’ve had at a convention in ages.
* * *
April 10, 2012 He Wouldn’t Do That
I complain about a complaint.
* * *
April 17, 2012 Updates, Secret Projects, and Miscellany
I get some loose ends tied up.
* * *
April 24, 2012 Prologue Books and Me
The skinny on one of my consulting clients.
* * *
May 1, 2012 The Ten Years War
Looking back on R.A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen
* * *
May 8, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XIII: Columbine
One of the scariest books I’ve ever read.
* * *
May 16, 2012 Complete Bibliography
But this page is better!
* * *
May 22, 2012 Devils of the Endless Writing Process
When you finally have to admit your outline is crap.
* * *
May 29, 2012 Professor Phil
I’m teaching a continuing ed. Class!
* * *
June 5, 2012 A Day of Me3tings
My whirlwind trip to LA for E3.
* * *
June 12, 2012 Ray Bradbury, 1920-2012
The passing of a true master of the art.
* * *
June 19, 2012 Fall Into the Fathomless Abyss
Devils of the Endless Deep is finally for sale!
* * *
June 26, 2012 Basic Training
A few things every writer should know.
* * *
July 3, 2012 Getting Started
How to START writing!
* * *
July 10, 2012 Help Me, J.T. McIntosh, Wherever You Are
Okay, I found them, stand down from APB!
* * *
July 17, On Vacation
I went to Vegas. The rest stays there.
* * *
July 24, 2012 Living Dialog
Advice for writing dialog that speaks.
* * *
July 31, 2012 Formula vs. Recipe
What is “formulaic” writing, really? And when is it a good thing?
* * *
August 7, 2012 An Evil Genius, Bent on World Domination … But Why?
The three Ms for great villains: Motivation, Motivation, and Motivation.
* * *
August 14, 2012 Nirvana Gates and My Tendency to Avoid Groups
Thinking about what groups your characters belong to … if any.
* * *
August 21, 2012 Everything, All at Once
Prioritizing projects and deadlines.
* * *
August 28, 2012 Taking My Own Advice
Do what I say and I will, too.
* * *
September 4 Buy a Book on Friday
Coming up on another National Buy a Book Day.
* * *
September 11, 2012 Another Buy a Book Day in the Books
Find out what I bought on National Buy a Book Day.
* * *
September 18, 2012 Taking My Own Advice, Step I
Trying to avoid spoilers. Not having much success.
* * *
September 25, 2012 At Play in the Fields of Fantasy
Have fun with fantasy, but don’t make fun of fantasy.
* * *
October 2, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XIV: The Prince
I take a look at the seminal text by Machiavelli.
* * *
October 9, 2012 I’d Like to Thank My Parents, Ed Greenwood and Ayn Rand
What I was thinking with the Watercourse Trilogy.
* * *
October 16, 2012 The Name Game
How to name your characters.
* * *
October 23, 2012 “Now Go Home and Write!”
My trip to LA for the Writers Digest Conference West.
* * *
October 30, 2012 Ask, and You Shall Receive
I unveil ASK PHIL.
* * *
November 6, 2012 Funny You Should Say That
Humor in SF and fantasy.
* * *
November 13, 2012 Character vs. Gimmick: A Tale of Two Short Stories
Learn from my mistakes and write better short stories!
* * *
November 20, 2012 What I’m Thankful For, 2012
We pause to say thanks.
* * *
November 27, 2012 How Not to Open a Short Story
More practical advice for short story writers.
* * *
December 4, 2012 The Fantasy Author’s Handbook Interview: Erin M. Evans
I chat with the author of Brimstone Angels.
* * *
December 11, 2012 Buy My E-books, Please
I come out hat in hand for Arron of the Black Forest and The Fathomless Abyss.
* * *
December 18, 2012 Happy Feast of the Moon
Add holidays to your fantasy worlds.
* * *
December 25, 2012 Merry Christmas
The Big Day fell on a Tuesday this year.
BOOKS FOR FANTASY AUTHORS
September 1, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors I: Medieval Wordbook
I recommend you find a copy of this excellent reference book by Madeline Pelner Cosman.
* * *
September 29, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors II: Payback
Why you must buy and read this fascinating book by Margaret Atwood.
* * *
November 11, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors III: My Ten Favorite Fantasy Novels
A look at my desert-island books, if the desert island is the lair of a hungry dragon.
* * *
January 19, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors IV: World Builder’s Handbook
In which I recommend an obscure, long-lost role-playing game product to any and every author of science fiction.
* * *
February 16, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors V: My Ten Favorite Science Fiction Novels
My desert island books, if the desert island is surrounded by the methane seas of Titan.
* * *
April 27, 2009 Books for Fantasy Authors VI: Take Joy
A must-read book by Jane Yolen for all writers of all genres.
* * *
September 28, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors VII: Born Standing Up
Find out what SF/fantasy authors can learn from Steve Martin’s memoir.
* * *
December 14, 2010 Books for Fantasy Authors VIII: The Eerie Silence
A brilliant review of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Paul Davies.
* * *
January 4, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors IX: The Essentials
Some must-have books to have close at hand.
* * *
February 15, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors X: Writing the Breakout Novel
I recommend agent Donald Maass’s exceptional book for all genres.
* * *
November 15, 2011 Books for Fantasy Authors XI: The Red Hourglass
Don’t invent a monster without it.
* * *
January 24, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XII: Last Breath (and Stranger Than Fiction)
What does death feel like?
* * *
May 8, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XIII: Columbine
One of the scariest books I’ve ever read.
* * *
October 2, 2012 Books for Fantasy Authors XIV: The Prince
I take a look at the seminal text by Machiavelli.
Pingback: MY BICENTENNIAL (AFTER A FASHION) | Fantasy Author's Handbook